A study from US Bank -- yes, a bank, I know -- showed that consumers still prefer branches. Wait, what? Aren't branches supposed to be dead -- especially in our uber-mobile world?  Well, not so fast because 80% of the study's respondents say they prefer to work with a live human being instead of a virtual one.

We invited one our industry's foremost branch experts CO-OP Financial Services Sarah Canepa Bang (President of CO-OP Share Branching) on the show to find out what is going on here. Sarah is well aware of this study and many others (especially CO-OP's) and was pleased to concur with those results. In fact, she took it a step further, saying even mobile Millennials are using branches in bigger numbers than ever before.

Naturally, we asked why? We also addressed how branches are evolving to remain relevant and effective. And, lastly, we inquired how our industry's truly unique business model shared branching plays a significant role in helping branches remain a vital part of credit unions' business plans.

Let us know what you're seeing with your branches, as well. Interesting to see where this trend heads.
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When I first heard of blockchain technology, I was thinking: what the heck is that? I've heard of block and tackle, block parties, even H&R Block -- but never blockchain. So I researched it and got semi educated on it and then started to hear rumblings throughout the industry on its possible impact -- good or bad.

So we invited The DMA Group's Paul Mica on the show who wrote an interesting article that appeared on CUinsight entitled: "Blockchain for credit unions – so much more than payments," to give us his perspective where this growing technology may take us.

We discussed such items as: how is blockchain affecting our current financial services system, is it a threat to credit unions (or not), credit unions may be in a position to adopt it quite rapidly, and what should credit unions be doing right now to address blockchain.

A fascinating topic, indeed. And one that should be given more attention in 2016. What are your thoughts?
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We all know the credit union industry is experiencing an executive evolution with the CEOs nationwide retiring, making room for a new crop of top talent to lead our industry to increased heights. But how do we entice this top talent to stay in our industry -- or even attract outside folks to join us with their fresh ideas?

Well, we have the man with answers for you -- and that would be Mr. Mike Higgins from Mike Higgins & Associates, who provides us with seven tips for your credit union to offer effective incentive plans to gain and retain that talent. Here's the quick list for you...

1. Results based
2. Minimum threshold
3. Aligned
4. Meaningful size
5. Self funded
6. No cap
7. Balanced measures

Watch to discover details on each and let us know what you think.
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We've all heard study after study on how stellar credit union performance has been of late. There's no doubt that credit unions are experiencing unprecedented numbers, but the folks at Cornerstone Advisors tell a slightly different tale -- a Tale of Two Cities, if you will.

To get to the bottom of this disparity, we invited two of Cornerstone's revered analysts Eric Weikart and Ron Shevlin on the show to share their eye-brow-raising discoveries in Cornerstone Advisors latest Credit Union Performance Report. We discussed why this report was dubbed after Charles Dickens' classic, three key findings that support the good and the "uh-oh," a few surprises, and a few performance improvement opportunities credit unions should address in 2016.

Enjoy and let us know your thoughts on their findings.
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Since our slow recovery from the Great Recession and accelerated the last couple years, there has been an unofficial green light for many well-established credit union CEOs to retire and let the next wave of leaders take the baton. Kudos to them, however, for helping our industry weather an economic storm that probably hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. This is the type of leadership that makes our industry great -- and the hopes are that it will rub off on many fresh faces taking charge for the next few decades.

That said, our industry is experiencing quite an executive exodus right now, which means it's a prime time for new talent and credit unions alike to jump on this opportunity and continue to leveraging credit unions' unprecedented popularity. To get an inside look at what is occurring within the industry at the executive level and how credit unions and would-be leaders can step up, we invited D. Hilton Associates John Andrews and Brian Kidwell on the program.

Both John and Brian have worked with credit unions many, many years and know them extremely well. We touched on how significant the CEO exodus is today, how deep in the talent pool, how are credit unions preparing and proactively taking measures to attract top talent, how do they keep top talent, and advice for both CUs and executive candidates looking to lead. Enjoy -- and let us know what you're doing in these changing times.
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